Photo: SI
The NHL announced on Tuesday that Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin was named the league’s first star for the month of October.
Ovechkin registered a League-leading nine goals in eight games (9-6—15) to power the Capitals to a 5-0-3 month (13 points), marking the first time in franchise history that Washington has completed October without a regulation loss. Ovechkin, who also ranked second in the NHL with 15 points and fourth with 36 shots on goal, scored in seven of his eight appearances, including his 731st and 732nd career goals on opening night (Oct. 13 vs. NYR: 2-2—4) to surpass Marcel Dionne (731) for fifth place on the League’s all-time list. The nine-time Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy winner, who now sits two goals shy of matching Brett Hull (741) for fourth place in NHL history, also tied his own franchise record by beginning the season with points in eight straight games, a feat he first accomplished during his rookie campaign of 2005-06 (6-4—10) and was matched by Alexander Semin in 2006-07 (8-4—12). The 36-year-old Moscow, Russia, native has accumulated 739-596—1,335 in 1,206 contests since entering the NHL in 2005-06, 253 more goals and 10 more points than the next-closest player during that span (Sidney Crosby: 486-839—1,325 in 1,040 GP).
Ovechkin’s 15 points rank third in the NHL. He recorded a point in every one of the Capitals’ four games of the month and scored a goal in eight of them. Ovechkin also finished October with a +7 rating.
Photo: CapitalsPR
By Harrison Brown
